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Second Holland-area jogger reports being harassed by men in vehicle

Posted at 4:10 PM, Feb 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-11 22:21:32-05

OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. –-  Police say a teenage girl reported being harassed by two men in a vehicle while she was jogging.

According to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department, the 16-year-old was jogging in the area of 152nd Avenue and James Street in Park Township Wednesday evening when two men in a white minivan stopped near her.

The driver allegedly pulled into a driveway in front of her and talked to her as she passed. According to the sheriff's department, the passenger then started to exit the vehicle.

The teen ran back to her home and contacted police. She described the passenger as a Hispanic man in his 30s, according to the sheriff's department. No description of the driver was provided.

Thursday evening FOX 17 spoke with a neighbor who lives nearby.

"I thought it was weird," said Brenda Ramirez. "It's happening out of nowhere, for it to happen on the south side and now it’s coming down to the north side... it’s like you can’t even go running outside."

Earlier this week, Holland Police took a similar call from a 21-year-old woman who reported being harassed and chased while out jogging.   She was in the area of Central Avenue near 13th Street at about 11 p.m.  when she told police that four or five men approached her riding in a white vehicle.

She told police the men were making lewd comments and asked her to stop.  The front seat passenger reportedly got out of the car and chased her.  She ran to a nearby home and the men left the area.

The driver and the front seat passenger were described by the woman as Hispanic men who are about 30 years old, according to police.  One of the men was wearing a flat-billed baseball hat and the other a winter skull cap.

Anyone with information on either of these cases can contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department at 616-739-4000 or Silent Observer at 877-887-4536.